Steering column assembly



INVENTOR 2X5 AT 5 ORNEY,

Aug. 28, 1956 c. M. Buss STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 17, 1954 BYZK United States Patent STEERING COLUMN ASSENIBLY Carl M. Bliss, Oak Park,- Mich., assignor to General Motors, Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a,v corporation of Delaware This invention relates generally to automotive steering columns and more particularly to. novel means for angularly aligning and securing together the steering column or mast jacket and the directional signal switch housing which also houses the bearing assembly between the steering shaft and the switching housing. Autoe motive steering columns of the type wherein the transmission shifting mechanism is mounted as a part ofthe steering column assembly generally include a control tube concentrically mounted between the steering shaft and the mast jacket or steering column; Since the upper end of the column is tubular and can be gotten at only from the top tosecure it to any of the structure to be assembled in the column assembly after the control tube and mast jacket are in place, it heretofore has been difi'icult to provide any suitable fastening means between themast jacket and the directional signal switch housing, the assembly located immediately above the jacket in the steering column assembly. I

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide anovel andsimpIifiedmeans for aligniugthe signalswitch housing angularly with respect to the mast. jacket and, further, means for quickly and effectiyely secun'ngthe lower end of the housing to the upper end of the mast jacket.

For a further understanding of the above and other related objects reference maybe had to the accompanyingd'etailed' description and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View substantially in elevation with portions broken away and in section illustrating the relevant portions of the steering column assembly and in part the manner of connecting the upper end of the, mast jacketand the lower end of the directional switch housing together. V

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2'-2 of Fig. 1' and illustrates a fastening plate or member having radially extending ears inserted in bayonet slots in the upper end of'themast jacket and how the ears are. secured to the underside or lowerend of the directional switch housing. 7

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on the line 3--3' of Fig. 2 and serves to further show how the ears of the fastening plate extend through the bayonet slots in the upper end of the mast jacket and how these ears and the lower end. of the directional signal switch housing are secured: together. t Fig.4 a, view taken on line 4-4;=of;"Fig. 1; to'hetter illustrate the bayonet slots and their configuration as well as the key on the directional signal switch housing in a vertical portion of one of the bayonet slots acting as a keyway in the upper end of mast jacket for angularly aligning directional signal switch housing relative to mast jacket.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing and particularly to Fig. l the automotive steering column assembly comprises a control tube 3 concentrically mounted between the steering shaft 1 and the mast jacket or steering column 2. After the control tube 3 has been assembled within the steering column 2 awasher 4 is inserted therebetween and rests on tonguesS bent inwardly'frorn the mast jacket 2. The washer 4 supports a pair ofcurved-annularspring's 6 which in turn resiliently support a washer 7; Restlng on the washer 7" and. bearing against the outer surface of the control tube 3 is the cylindrical bearing portion 8 of a rotatable diecast bowl assembly 9. The rotatable diecast bow-l assembly 9 which forms afairingmember betweenthe mast jacket and the lower edge of the di rectional signal switch housing (to be described shortly) is of the usual construction and is hollow and open: at both ends and has at one. side a radial inwardly extending portion 10 which provides an entrance passage for the control or shifter handle 11. The handle 11 which-terminates adjacent the rim of the steering Wheel: is pivotalf ly supported for movement toward-and away from the steering Wheel in a plane containing the mast jacket axis or, in other words, for rotatablemovement about-the axis of a pin 12 in the cylindrical portion 10 of'the bowl 9; The inner end of the handle 11 terminates in a rounded bulbous portion Iii-which fits in an aperture 14 inthe control tube 3. Aperture 14 isreinforced by a key- 15 having an inwardly turned annular'fiange 16. The key. lfi extendsaxially of and is secured'to the outer surface of the controltube S-as bywelding and fits within a'key Way 17in the cylindrical bearing portion 8 of the bowi assembly 9. A suitable rubber or plastic boot 18-fits over the outer end of the cylindrical portion 10-to seal the opening at the outer end of cylindrical portion 10: An antirattle spring 19- fits against a shoulder 20 on the handle l1 and also against the key 15. In-operation then as the handle 11- is moved up and down, i. e., toward and away from the steering wheel, the control tube- 3 moves up. and downin the cylindrical bearing portion- 8 of the rotatable bowl assembly 9. Rotary movement of. the handle 11 by reason of the key 15 in the keyway 17 and the pin 12 causes rotary movement of the bowl assembly 9 and also control'tube 3.

Located above the cylindrical portion- 8- ow bowl as sembly 9 isa washer 21. The washer 21- forms a-support for the-bearing portion 22? at the lower end of a direction al signal switch housing 23. The bearing portion 22 acts asa bearing: forjournaling the upper end of the controhtube 3' which ismountedfor rotary andreciprocatingmovement therein. Priorto'assembling the directional signal switch housing in place so that its bearing portion 22 encirclesv the upper end of control tube 3* an'an'nular supporting or fastening plate 24' having aplurality of radially spaced ears or lobes 25 is placed in-the-uppcrend of the mast jacket 2. so that the cars 25 are 'receivedr in a plurality of peripherally spaced bayonet slots 26' (-see particularly Fig. 4). adjacent the upper end thereof: The cars or lobes-extend beyond the outer surfaceof the upper end: of the mast jacket 2 and are secured to bosses 27 provided ona horizontal web portion 33" of the+lower end of the directional signal switch housing 23 (see Figs. 3 and 4.) by means of screws 2%. Itwillbe observed from Fig. 3- that tighteningof the screws 28- will cause the upper end of the mast jacket 2 to be tightly clampedfbetween-the lower end of'the directional switch housing. 231 and the cars 25 on the fastening plate 24' thereby; providing anextremely simple but effective joint between these members. In order to insure that the directional signal switch housing 23 remains in angular alignment relative to the mast jacket 2 an axially extending slot 29 forming the vertical portion of one of the more or less L-shaped bayonet slots and leading from the upper edge of the mast jacket 2 has inserted therein a key 30 integrally formed on the underside of web portion 33 and adjacent the bearing portion 22 of the directional signal switch housing 23. The steering shaft 1 is maintained in centered relation at its upper end by means of a bearing set 31 inserted between the shaft 1 and an upwardly projecting cylindrical portion 32 provided in the directional signal switch housing 23., i v

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that a new and unique means hasbeen provided for angularly aligning the directional signal switch housing relative to the mast jacket and for quickly and effectively securing these two members together. V ,1

;I claim:

1. Vin a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular mast jacket extending along an axis and having a bayonet slot in the upper end thereof, a housing extending along said axis above said jacket, a steering shaft extending along said axis and through said jacket and housing, bearing means in said housing interposed between said shaft and housing journaling said shaft for rotation relative to said housing, and means connecting the lower end of said housing to the upper end of said mast-jacket comprising a fastening plate having an ear inserted in said slot and extending radially beyond said jacket, and fastening means securing said ear to the lower end of said housing.

2. In a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular mast jacket extending along an axis, the upper end of said jacket having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bayonet slots therein, said slots including axially extending portions leading from the upper end of said jacket and circumferentially extending portions axially spaced from the upper end of said jacket and intersecting said axially extending portions, a housing extending along said axis above said jacket, a steering shaft extending along said axis and through said jacket and housing, bearing means in said housing and interposed between said shaft and housing journaling said shaft for rotation relative to said housing, and means connecting the lower end of said housing to the upper end of said mast jacket comprising a fastening plate having a plurality of radial ears inserted in said circumferentially extending portions and extending radially beyond said jacket, and fastening means securing said ears to the lower end of said housing.

3. In a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular member extending along an axis, said member having a bayonet slot adjacent the upper end thereof including an axially extending slot, a housing extending along said axis above said member, a steering shaft extending along said axis and through said member and housing, bearing means in said housing and interposed between said shaft and housing journaling said shaft for rotation relative to said housing, means angularly aligning said housing relative to said jacket comprising a key on said housing inserted in said axially extending slot, and means connecting the lower end of said housing to the upper end of said mast jacket. comprising a fastening plate having a radial ear inserted in said slot and extending radially beyond said jacket, and fastening means securing said ear to the lower end of said housing.

4. In a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular mast jacket extending along an axis and having an aperture in the wall thereof adjacent the upper end thereof, a housing extending along said axis above said jacket, and means connecting said housing to the upper end of said jacket comprising a fastening plate having a projection inserted in said aperture and fastening means securing said projection to said housing.

- 5. In a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular mast jacket extending along an axis and having a circumferentially extending slot adjacent the upper end thereof, a housing extending along said axis above said jacket, means angularly aligning said jacket and said house ing, and means connecting said housing to the upper end of said jacket comprising a fastening plate having an ear inserted in said slot and fastening means securing said ear to said housing.

6. In a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular member extending along an axis, said member having a bayonetslot adjacent the upper end thereof including an axially extending slot, a housing extending along said axis abovesaid jacket, means angularly aligning said housing relative to said jacket and preventing rotatable movement of said housing about said axis relative to said jacket comprising a key on said housing inserted in said axially extending slot, and means connecting said housing to the upper end of said jacket comprising a fastening member having an ear inserted in said slot and fastening means securing said fastening member to said housing.

7. In a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular mast jacket extending along an axis, the upper end of said jacket having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bayonet slots therein, said slots including axially extending portions leading from the upper end of said jacket and circumferentially extending portions axially spaced from the upper end vof said jacket and intersecting said axially extending portions, a housing extending along said axis above said jacket, means angularly aligning said housing relative to said jacket and preventing rotatable movement of said jacket about said axis relative to said housing comprising a key on said housing inserted in one of said axially extending portions, and means connecting the lower end of said housing to the upper end of said jacket comprising a fastening member having a plurality of cars inserted in said circumferentially extending por,

tions and extending radially beyond said jacket, and fastening means securing said ears to the lower end of said housing. v

8. Ina steering column assembly, a support including a tubular mast jacket extending along an axis and having a bayonet slot in the upper end thereof, a housing extending along said axis above said jacket, a steering shaft extending along said axis and through said jacket and, housing, bearing means in said housing interposed between said shaft and housing journaling said shaft for rotation relative to said housing, and means connecting the lower end of said housing to the upper end of said mast jacket comprising a fastening platerhaving an ear inserted in said slot and extending radially beyond ,said jacket, and fastening means securing said plate to the low'erend of said housing.

9. In a steering column assembly, a support including a tubular mast jacket extending along an axis and having an aperture in the wall thereof adjacent the upper end thereof, a housing extending along said axis above said jacket, and means connecting said housing to the upper end of said jacket comprising a fastening plate having a projection inserted in said aperture end fastening means securing said plate to said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,536 White May 19, 1931 2,518,175 Pinardi Aug. 8, 1950 2,693,713 Reid Nov. 9, 1954 

